Michael Morse Injury Update: Nationals Outfielder To Return To Lineup Friday Night

The rumors that injured Washington Nationals outfielder Michael Morse is returning to the lineup for Friday night's game against the Atlanta Braves have been confirmed. The Washington Nationals tweeted Friday afternoon that Morse will be in the clean-up spot for the opening game in the important series.

Morse has been on the disabled list for the entire 2012 season with a shoulder injury. He was almost ready for Opening Day, however a set back saw him miss the first two months of the season. After finding out that the injury would not require surgery, the team had him rest until he was ready to go.

He will be a welcome addition to a lineup that is struggling to find offense and power. In 2011, Morse hit .303 with 31 HRs and 95 RBIs.

For more Nationals coverage, check out Federal Baseball. Follow further developments in the Morse situation with this StoryStream.

Michael Morse Injury: Nationals' Slugger Could Join Team Friday

The Washington Nationals have been getting more an more good news on injury first baseman Michael Mores. Back in April it was thought that Morse would need season ending surgery on his shoulder, but was relieved to find out that it wasn't necessary. Now, there is word that there is a possibility Morse could re-join the club on Friday.

Davey says there's an "outside possibility" Morse will join the Nats on Friday.

— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) May 30, 2012

Morse originally suffered his injury in spring training with the Nationals and was totally shut down by the team while he was trying to recover, being forced to simply rest. It seems however that Morse is on the right draft and could offer some more power in the Nationals lineup by mid-season.

For more Nationals coverage and conversation, visit Federal Baseball, SB Nation's Nats blog. For the Marlins perspective, check out Fish Stripes. For news and updates from the Nationals series in Miami, stay tuned to this StoryStream from SB Nation DC.

Michael Morse Injury: No Surgery Required For Nationals' Slugger

There's good news and bad news for Washington Nationals outfielder Michael Morse. The good news is that he will not require surgery for the shoulder injury. He has a strained lat that will keep him out of action for the next six weeks, the bad news.

Morse visited with renowned Dr. James Andrews recently who told the 30-year old slugger that all he needs is rest, plenty of rest, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. Kilgore also relayed a moment of panic from Morse, who thought for a moment that he would definitely require surgery and spend up to a year watching his teammates from the dugout.

Michael Morse said there was a 2-hour window when he believed he would need surgery that would hold him out 9-12 months. "Scary," he said.

— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) April 16, 2012

Washington was counting on Morse to play a leading role in surprise season after he broke out with 31 home runs in 2011.

For more Nationals coverage, check out Federal Baseball. Follow further developments in the Morse situation with this StoryStream.

Michael Morse Injury Update: Nationals Put Slugger In 'Total Shutdown Mode' For Six Weeks

When Michael Morse suffered his lat injury in Spring Training it was considered by many in the organization as minor, but now just about a month later, it appears that his injury is far more serious than we know. After re-aggravating the injury during his rehab assignment in Hagerstown, the Nationals will be shutting Morse down for the near future in an attempt to let his lat heal slowly.

Rizzo: Morse in "total shutdown mode" for 6 weeks after reaggravated lat tear. No surgical option to repair it.

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) April 12, 2012

Lat injuries are so tricky to deal with for baseball players because so much of their movement involves torquing the upper body. Morse apparently had very little trouble swinging the bat during his assignment but had a lot of trouble throwing, and that is where he re-injured himself. Without a surgical option the only course of action is to slowly wait for the injury to heal, and make sure it is back to 100% before allowing Morse to participate in any activities that could aggravate it.

Michael Morse Injury Update: Nationals Send Test Results To Dr. James Andrews For Second Opinion

The Washington nationals have gotten off to a strong start so far this season, but their offense has been inconsistent at best. That could be because they are still without their 2011 offensive MVP Michael Morse as he continues to come back from a lat injury that cost him the majority of spring training. For a while it looked like Morse might be back in time for the home opener on Thursday, but now he will be out indefinitely.

And the news gets worse, his test results are getting sent to Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion.

The Nats are sending Michael Morse's test results to Dr. James Andrews for another opinion. No word on him or Storen.

— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) April 11, 2012

Hearing the name Dr. James Andrews in relation to any player on any team is almost uncertainly a bad thing, unless it's "Turns out we don't have to send him to Dr. James Andrews after all." When Morse first suffered his injury it was considered minor, but bringing Dr. Andrew's name into the discussion makes it a much bigger issue.

Michael Morse Will Not Play In Washington Nationals Home Opener, Out Indefinitely

For the Washington Nationals fans who were anticipating the return of slugger Michael Morse on Thursday in the team's opening game against the Cincinnati Reds, it won't happen.

Morse is still suffering from back soreness, an injury he attained at the end of spring training which caused the Nationals to place him on the disabled list at the start of the season. Morse would have been eligible to be activate back into the lineup today, but said he felt soreness in his throwing.

Davey says Morse had trouble reaching the shortstop from left field and took himself out of the game in Hagerstown. "That stresses me."

— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) April 10, 2012

Michael Morse felt soreness throwing last night, had to be re-examined by team docs. He's not playing Thursday. Out indefinitely.

— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) April 10, 2012

Read more news and notes on the Nationals at the Federal Baseball blog.

Michael Morse Injury: Nationals Slugger Will Rejoin Team For Home Opener

Washington Nationals' slugging first baseman Michael Morse will rejoin the Nats for their home opener against the Cincinnati Reds this week, according to a report. Morse was put on the disabled list to start the season after suffering a strained back muscle at the end of spring training. But according to Bill Ladson, he will go through two quick rehab assignments this week and should be ready to join the big league club by Thursday.

Via Bill Ladson of MLB.com:

Outfielder Michael Morse, on the disabled list because of strained right lat (back) muscle, is expected to play nine innings for Double-A Harrisburg on Monday and Tuesday and will rejoin the Nationals in time for the home opener against the Reds on Thursday afternoon.

Morse is eligible to come off the DL on Tuesday but manager Davey Johnson felt it best to hold him out and activate him for the home opener two days later.

For more on Morse's injury, head over to Washington Nationals blog Federal Baseball. For more from around baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. To keep track of all rumors and happenings in the game, check out MLB Daily Dish.

Michael Morse Injury Update: Washington Left Fielder May Return Tuesday

Washington Nationals outfielder Michael Morse, who missed much of spring training with a lat injury, may be returning to the club and lineup on Tuesday. Via Mark Zuckerman of Nats Insider:

Already planning to take a day off from his rehab assignment with Class AA Harrisburg, Nationals left fielder Michael Morse is heading to New York today to receive treatment on his healing right lat muscle.

Manager Davey Johnson described the one-day trip to New York as strictly for treatment purposes and said the lat tear that sidelined Morse for much of March has completely healed. The club still anticipates to have its cleanup hitter back in the lineup as soon as Tuesday, the first day he's eligible to come off the disabled list.

With Morse's anticipated return next week, and Rick Ankiel's supposed return a few days later, the Nationals will soon be forced to drop some members of the roster, perhaps veterans Brett Carroll or Chad Tracy.

For more on the two teams, head over to Washington Nationals blog Federal Baseball and Chicago Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more from around baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. To keep track of all rumors and happenings in the game, check out MLB Daily Dish.

Nationals Spring Training 2012: Michael Morse, Drew Storen, Rick Ankiel, Chien-Ming Wang To Disabled List

What had been expected for some time became official Monday afternoon, when Nationals manager Davey Johnson announced that infielder/outfielder Michael Morse, outfielder Rick Ankiel, pitcher Chien-Ming Wang, and reliever Drew Storen would all start the season on the disabled list.

According to Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post, Johnson is looking to have both Morse and Ankiel available for the first home series of the year, which begins April 12 against the Cincinnati Reds. Morse is continuing to recover from a lat strain that limited his time at the plate this spring, while Ankiel is dealing with a tight left hamstring.

As for the pitchers, Storen threw off a mound Saturday morning for the first time since disclosing that he was suffering from elbow inflammation. Wang is recovering from a strained left hamstring suffered on March 15.

The announcements mean that the Nationals' Opening Day roster will include free agent signings Brett Carroll and Chad Tracy, young infielder Steve Lombardozzi, and veteran Xavier Nady, who signed with the Nationals as a free agent in March.

For more on the Nationals, check out Federal Baseball.